Evaluation on Effects of Chase and Distance-play Tests on Predicting Training Success Rate for Guide Dogs

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-5817.2015.02.005

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To establish the methods and evaluation criterion for Chase and Distance-play tests of dog mentality assessment (DMA) and detect their effects on predicting the training success rate for guide dogs. Method The methods of Chase and Distance-play test and the related evaluation criterion of 9 behavioral variables in total were improved and established. The behavioral variables were Following I, Following II, Grabbing I, Grabbing II in Chase test and Interest, Aggression, Exploration, Tug-of-war, Play Invitation in Distance-play test. Twelve guide dogs and 12 eliminated dogs from Chinese Guide Dogs Training Centre of Dalian were used to examine the predicting effects of the 9 behavioral variables on the training success rate for guide dogs. Result According to the results of statistical analysis, the “Play Invitation” in Distance-play test showeda significant difference between guide dogs and eliminated dogs (P=0.045). However, no significant difference was detected for the scores of the rest variables (P>0.05). To analyze the distribution of the numbers of guide dogs and eliminated dogs in different score grades, we divided the scores of each variable into 3 grades (1~2 points, 3~4 points and 5 points). For Play Invitation, the eliminated dogs were mainly concentrated in 1~2 points. For Aggression, the guide dogs and eliminated dogs were mainly concentrated in the 1~2 points. For Following I, more guide dogs distributed in 5 points grade compared to eliminated dogs. For Grabbing II, eliminated dogs were mainly concentrated in 3~4 points. For Exploration, the guide dogs were mainly concentrated in the 3~4 points. In comparison, the eliminated dogs were mainly concentrated in 1~2 points. Conclusion We have established the methods and evaluation criterion for Chase and Distance-play test of DMA. The “Play Invitation” is confirmed as an effective variable index to predict the training success rate for guide dogs.

Key words: Dog mentality assessment (DMA), Guide dog candidates, Guide dogs, Chase test, Distance-play test

CLC Number:

Q95-33

ZHANG Ya-li, ZHOU Zi-juan, YU Jian-xiong, HAN Fang, WANG Liang, JIANG Xin, WANG Ai-guo, WANG Fu-jin, WANG Jing-yu. Evaluation on Effects of Chase and Distance-play Tests on Predicting Training Success Rate for Guide Dogs[J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2015, 35(2): 107-113.

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